Anonymous donor takes retired teacher a new scooter

May 3, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Marvin Fennema, 93, is all smiles because he has a scooter back outside his mobile home after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Marvin Fennema, 93, glances at his new scooter parked outside his mobile home in Anaheim after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. "God is good," said Fennema after he had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. Fennema has plans to park the new ride inside in his living room from now on. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Unsteady on his feet, Marvin Fennema, 93, carefully walks toward his new scooter after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Marvin Fennema, 93, pauses a moment while sitting atop his new scooter as he recalls all the nice messages and offers to help after he had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. A donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Marvin Fennema, 93, is all smiles as he sits on his new scooter after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Keys for his new scooter rest on Marvin Fennema's, 93, kitchen counter, next to the old key of his stolen mobility scooter. A donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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With his life back on track, Marvin Fennema, 93, makes himself breakfast after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Marvin Fennema, 93, makes makes a phone call to give the people at his church the good news after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night. "God is good," said Fennema. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Marvin Fennema, 93, is all smiles because he has a scooter back outside his mobile home after a donor gave the retired music teacher a new scooter Friday morning. Fennema had his mobility scooter stolen from his driveway in Anaheim Sunday night.KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – A 93-year-old man's mobility was restored Friday when he was given the gift of a new scooter – well, almost restored. He needs a new battery.

Marvin Fennema, a retired Anaheim school teacher, had a wide smile that was only broken by periods of grateful thoughts as he sat in a new scooter that filled the void he has experienced since Sunday, when his mobility scooter was stolen from his driveway.

With failing health but an appreciation for exploration, Fennema's Lynx scooter was the only way he was able to get around the neighborhood after his late-morning naps. It was with shock and sadness when he woke up Monday morning to find the vehicle missing from his driveway.

As the weather began to warm up Friday morning, a man drove into the Casa Hermosa complex where Fennema lives, with a new shiny red scooter strapped in the back of his pickup.

Tom Raub, the assistant manager at the complex, said he saw the truck pull in about 8 a.m. during his morning duties.

"I just knew within my own heart that it was for Marvin," Raub said.

Pat, the man who donated the scooter and wished to remain anonymous, told Raub and a neighbor that he purchased the scooter for his mother about two years ago, but she never used it. After reading an Orange County Register article about Fennema, he decided to take it to him.

Several calls and emails were sent to the Register asking to donate chairs and cash. The news of the community outreach brought Fennema almost to tears.

"I'm flabbergasted," he said. "I feel so loved."

Fennema said that he will start taking the new scooter indoors every night to avoid another theft. A member of Calvary Chapel in Anaheim built him a ramp when he broke his hip a few years ago, so getting the vehicle into his home will not be a problem.

Raub went to Fennema's home Friday afternoon to help him set up the chair, which would not turn on. Raub believes because the scooter sat unused in Pat's garage that the battery needs to be replaced, which is going to cost about $75.

"If we had more people like Pat, we wouldn't have as many problems in the world," he said.

Fennema said he is excited to see the birds and explore the neighborhood again and was mapping out his regular route while sitting on the temporarily stationary chair.

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